How to Get a Visa to Study in the U.S.

As of 2018, there are well over 1 million students who have come from abroad to study in the U.S. To get here, these students must obtain a nonimmigrant visa. The most common type of student visa is the F-1, which allows foreign students to enroll as a full-time student at a U.S. school. The M-1 visa is nearly the same, but allows the student to enroll at a vocational school. However, many students—and others—also come into the country as exchange visitors on the J-1 visa. Students should review the requirements for each to determine which program gives them the best opportunity to study in the U.S.

How to start the process

The first step for students wanting to pursue the F-1 or M-1 visa is to gain acceptance to a U.S. school. Once accepted, the student must file a form titled I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The U.S. school will assist the student in providing information for the form. The student then files the application for F-1 or M-1 visa, filling out form DS-160 online with the U.S. Department of State. The last step is preparing for and attending the visa interview near the student’s foreign consulate or embassy.

Requirements for F-1 or M-1 visa

Students have additional requirements to meet under the law to obtain the F-1 or M-1 visa. Those requirements include:

Residence in a foreign country with no intention of abandoning, meaning their intent is to stay in the U.S. only temporarily

Bona fide student, meaning the student is not here for another reason, like to get a job or find a spouse

Qualified to pursue a full course of study, meaning the student can demonstrate they are qualified for the program enrolled in and possess adequate English language skills

As mentioned, the program must be a full-time course of study, not part-time. Students who lack the necessary English language proficiency can still qualify by supplementing their U.S. education with courses in English, but that coursework should not be so substantial it adversely affects their ability to meet the requirements for their primary course of study.

The F-1 or M-1 visa applicant must also demonstrate they can pay for their education and living expenses while studying in the U.S. Applicants must show through documented proof they have the assets and income to pay for their education. Applicants can rely on student loans, grants and scholarships they obtain through their school, but cannot rely on prospective earnings through part-time employment or work-study.

The J-1 visa process

The J-1 visa classification is for “exchange visitors.” These are visitors who come to the U.S. through an approved U.S. exchange program. The purposes of those exchange programs are generally either: teaching, studying or receiving training, conducting research and/or consulting.

There are many similarities between the F-1, M-1 and J-1 visas. Many students come to the U.S. through exchange programs, like students under the F-1 and M-1 visa programs. But there are some differences between these visas, too. J-1 visa applicants don’t have the same burden to show they can pay for their schooling, and J-1 visa applicants must meet a stricter requirement for showing residence in their home country prior to getting the visa.

Although qualification for the student visas are typically less strict than other non-immigrant visas, the U.S. government often denies student visas. Often those denials are final and not appealable. Applicants who want to ensure the best chance of a successful application should contact an experienced Massachusetts immigration attorney before submitting their visa application.

Massachusetts

There are many similarities between the F-1, M-1 and J-1 visas. But there are some differences between these visas, too.

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